Commutation Order Baffles Libby Judge

The federal judge who sentenced Scooter Libby to 30 months in prison expressed his frustration with President Bush's commutation order yesterday, pointing out that the administration had championed the sentencing guidelines he followed. Reggie Walton, a Bush appointee with a lock-'em-up reputation, vented in a footnote to an order that Libby to serve supervised release, the LA Times reports.

Bush defended his decision, the Washington Post reports, saying it was "fair and balanced." The president also revealed for the first time his awareness that "somebody" in his administration was responsible for leaking Valerie Plame's name. He didn't specify, but the Post speculates that his comments may have been directed at Richard Armitage. (More Lewis Scooter Libby stories.)